Synonyms

under a cloud

Idioms

Under suspicion, in trouble, or out of favor, as in Ever since his brother was accused of fraud, he's been under a cloud. This metaphoric expression calls up the image of a single black cloud hanging over an individual. [c. 1500]

Example Sentences

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under a cloud

“Student-athletes cannot afford to start another school year under a cloud of regulatory instability and legal confusion.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

Hong remained in charge under a cloud of doubt and criticism as the world cup drew closer.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

They left under a cloud — each one a scandal for at least one news cycle.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026

But after two seasons with the Gophers, he left the program under a cloud.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

Amidst the polar night, our only sun had slipped under a cloud.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

under a cloud

Example Sentences

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